Country data - CLD448 - Global Childhoods - Research Guides at Toronto Metropolitan University Libraries

Research traditions

Sources for country data

Websites

One of the most common sources of information about a country is the country's statistical agency. In Canada, we are used to going to the Statistics Canada website for information about our country. The best way to find a country's statistical agency is to Google "X country statistics". Note, there may not be an English version available. Unless you are able to speak the language, this may pose a barrier to using this as a primary source. For example, if I wanted to choose Cuba for my assignment, I couldn't use data from their statistics office unless I speak Spanish.

Another consideration is how trustworthy the available statistics may be. Depending on the type of government in the country of choice, there could be some concerns with the reliability of the data. There may be a reduced transparency in data collection methods, or inconsistencies in the availability of data over time. Note that Canada is not exempt from this critique! The Harper government famously made a change to the way that our long-form census data was collected in 2011. As a result, there will be an enduring gap in knowledge about our country during this time.

Alternative sources of information that are held up to rigorous standards are available via the following agencies:

UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund)

Search website by country name for all available data and reports. Of note: annual reports from local country agencies

UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Digital Library

Explore by Country; narrow down by Topic (i.e. Early Childhood Education, Women's Participation, etc.)

WHO (World Health Organization)

Search repository by country name; filter by Subject (search child)

Databases

EIU (Economist Intelligence Unit) This link opens in a new window
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EIU (Economist Intelligence Unit) provides country, industry, management analysis and forecasts on over 200 countries, nine strategic industries, and a full range of management functions through the following services: ViewsWire, Country Reports, and Country Profiles.
- ViewsWire provides daily updated analysis and views on business, economic trends, political and market developments from around the world. ViewsWire covers over 200 countries with three years of archived information.
- Country Reports provides in depth information on issues shaping the country: the political scene, economic policy, domestic economy, sectoral trends, foreign trade and payments. Country Reports covers 200 countries and is updated monthly.
- Country Profile provides detailed background on a country’s economic and political status and background. Statistical tables give a five-year run of data on issues such as manufacturing, fiscal policy and unemployment. Country Profile covers 200 countries and is updated annually.
OECD iLibrary This link opens in a new window
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OECD iLibrary is OECD’s Online Library for books, papers and statistics and the gateway to OECD’s analysis and data. It replaces SourceOECD, and hosts all content so users can find – and cite – tables and databases as easily as articles or chapters.
World Bank Data Catalog This link opens in a new window
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The World Bank's Open Data initiative is intended to provide all users with access to World Bank data, according to the Open Data Terms of Use. The data catalog is a listing of available World Bank datasets, including databases, pre-formatted tables, reports, and other resources.